probable cause in California, cop tailgating with brights

[OHRoadwarrior]

As an aside... When I drove taxi, decades ago, some jerk kids in mom n dads car, high beamed me and kept changing lanes to aggravate me. I reached down, picked up my handheld and gave the 100,000 candlepower in the face. The game was over. I won.

 

[HighwayMan]

...the cop said his reason for pulling me over was for to closely riding the shoulder.

The officer can tell you anything he wants to on the side of the road - it doesn't mean a thing. Maybe he wanted to avoid a long explanation your observed driving behavior and gave you what he saw as just one element of his reason for stopping you. He was under no obligation to tell you much of anything.

Just because his report may say something different doesn't mean it's made up or a lie.

 

[HighwayMan]

As an aside... When I drove taxi, decades ago, some jerk kids in mom n dads car, high beamed me and kept changing lanes to aggravate me. I reached down, picked up my handheld and gave the 100,000 candlepower in the face. The game was over. I won.

If you're suggesting that a motorist take this action against the police under similar circumstances then I think that's probably pretty bad advice.